Figuring Out a Writing Schedule

Well, okay, technically it is figuring out a schedule period. What I'd like to be able to do with my day is: fill out job applications, work on writing/editing my novels, keep up with my TV shows, read books, and technically I should try to find time to exercise but that usually falls by the wayside every time. So far in the month of January I have completely finished 13 books and I'm about halfway finished with three others. I've also managed to fill out something like 50 job applications, though I'm not hearing back from anyone. The only writing I've managed to do is 1400 words the other day and I think I added a couple hundred words while doing some editing today, so I'm really behind on that front.

I don't really mind writing in my bedroom because I'm the one who painted and styled and laid out the room, but I feel like I basically spend all of my time there (or rather here since I'm in my room right now) and it is just getting monotonous. My car's heater core was bad so it went into the shop to get fixed...two weeks ago, and apparently the guy hasn't even pulled it into the shop to work on it yet, so I don't have a car and can't really go anywhere. Also, have I mentioned before that I unfortunately still live at home with my parents and my little brother? Okay, and I say little brother but he's 22 years old so...

Anyway, I usually stay up pretty late either watching TV or reading so it stands to reason that I should make my TV time right before bed. Part of me thinks the productive thing to do would be to start my morning off with job applications, but I sometimes get so frustrated with those and I don't want my day to start off with aggravation. I currently start my day off with checking my e-mails, Facebook, Twitter, etc. So maybe I should spend a couple hours on job applications, then take a lunch break and maybe read for an hour or so, and then write for a couple hours? That sounds fairly reasonable, I think.

Right now I actually have a couple reasons I need to focus on my writing and editing. First I really need to finish up my edits for Project Death: Resurrection because I wanted to have it ready for self-publication by now. Second, and this would definitely be a leap of faith, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest is back up and running again. Submissions opened yesterday and will go through January 27th, or until 10,000 entries have been turned in. I think that Bound is probably my best shot for the contest, since I'm still really putting some work into Resurrection. My focus for the next week will be on polishing up Bound and preparing my 300 word pitch so I can fill out the entry form and take a chance. The ABNA has a grand prize of a book contract with a $50,000 advance, while the four first place winners receive a contract with a $15,000 advance.

Just getting that publishing contract would be great, though a part of me would be a little upset if I did make it as a finalist. The contract is with Amazon, which would mean that I basically would not be able to have a NOOK book copy of my novel, and as an owner of a NOOK, it always frustrates me when I can't get a book because of contract stipulations and such. Then again, if I get professionally published then I can add that to my author bio and it could help me to get more books published with other companies who would distribute not just to Amazon, but also to B&N, etc.

So, that's the plan...Now to see if I can follow it.

From the Stacks: Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

After reading this book I can honestly say that I agree with the large number of people saying that this was one of the best books of 2012. Normally I wait until after I finish typing up my thoughts to say what my rating is for a book, but I'm going to start all of this by saying that Code Name Verity is absolutely a 5/5.

Summary:

"Oct. 11, 1943

A British spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France.

Its pilot and passenger are best friends.

One of the girls has a shot at survival. The other has lost the game before it's barely begun.

When "Verity" is arrested by the Gestapo, she's sure she doesn't stand a chance. As a secret agent captured in enemy territory, she's living a spy's worst nightmare. Her Nazi interrogators give her a simple choice: reveal her mission or face a grisly execution.

They'll get the truth out of her. But it won't be what they expect.

As she intricately weaves her confession, Verity uncovers her past, how she became friends with the pilot Maddie, and why she left Maddie in the wrecked fuselage of their plane. On each new scrap of paper, Verity battles for her life, confronting her views on courage, failure, and her desperate hope to make it home. But will trading her secrets be enough to save her from a merciless and ruthless enemy?

Harrowing and beautifully written, Code Name Verity is the story of an unforgettable friendship forged in the face of the ultimate evil."

My Thoughts:

Wow, this book was definitely original and great. The way Verity tells her story is quite interesting, jumping from an event several months earlier to an event a week earlier, while also recapping on whatever happened to her that day. I also have to say that it was really intriguing that though the story is told somewhat in first person by our narrator Verity, she mostly tells Maddie's story, making Verity a storyteller in her own right. That storytelling aspect is such that when Verity actually brings herself into Maddie's story, I didn't realize it until the "villain" pointed it out to one of his comrades.

As the title states, Verity is her code name, but even the other names she uses for herself throughout the story are false names. We don't even know her true name until the very end of the story as told by Verity. The last quarter or so of the book shifts perspective entirely and Maddie is able to tell her own story of the final events in this remarkable and moving story.

I don't want to give any spoilers or ruin the story for anyone who hasn't read it, but I do want to say that it is an incredible read and I highly recommend it to anyone, teen or adult. This is a story of friendship and of loyalty, the bonds created between Verity and Maddie, and the lengths they will go to in order to help one another, save one another, and do their part for the war effort. Code Name Verity is extremely moving and I found myself tearing up a few times. I will be quite interested to see what other books Elizabeth Wein will write. She has made it on my author watch list.

Code Name Verity at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/code-name-verity-elizabeth-e-wein/1105027889?ean=9781423152194

Code Name Verity at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Verity-Elizabeth-Wein/dp/1423152190/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357602525&sr=1-1&keywords=Code+Name+Verity

Other Readings:

Wow...already halfway through the month. I really need to focus on the book pick for Vaginal Fantasy because I actually haven't started it yet. I also need to finish Unearthly by Cynthia Hand since it is due back to the library on Saturday. So, I guess you know what I'm doing this week, reading those books while also following up on some applications and putting in some more. Job hunting is not fun at all.

From the Stacks: Trance by Kelly Meding

I admit it...I'm a sucker for superhero books (and movies, and TV shows, etc) so this immediately jumped out at me, and now I'm trying to hold myself back from jumping into the second book because I have a stack of other books I need to read.

Summary:

"Kelly Meding's war-ravaged Los Angeles is ground zero for the ultimate Meta human showdown in this sexy, action-packed new series.

Fifteen years ago, Teresa "Trance" West was a skilled telepath and a proud member of the Ranger Corps. But ever since the Rangers were inexplicably rendered powerless at the climax of the devastating Meta War,  she's bounced from one dead-end job to another. Now her powers have reappeared just as mysteriously as they vanished-only they're completely transformed and more potent than ever. And they're threatening to destroy her.

Trance heads to Los Angeles to track down the surviving Rangers and discover who restored her powers-and why-but a phantom enemy is determined to kill them before they can reassemble. As they dodge his deadly attacks and come to terms with their new role as heroes, Trance and the rest of the team set out to annihilate the sinister madman...only to discover their own powers are his greatest weapons."

My Thoughts:

I absorbed this book in only a couple hours and honestly I was mad anytime my family wanted me to do something because it meant I had to put the book down (or my e-reader since I was reading a NOOK book), but I was so entranced by this world and the characters that I couldn't stay away.

The story starts when the main characters are still children, at the end of the Meta War, and shows how terrifying and gruesome things were for them. Then, mysteriously, all of their abilities disappear, and the children are separated, sent to live in various foster homes and such while trying to find a way to adjust to a life without their Meta abilities.

Fast forward fifteen years and Teresa "Trance" West is not having such an easy time of life. She's working three jobs just to try and survive, and then she gets fired from one. She's already having a crappy day and then it feels like she is getting really sick...come to find out, her abilities are back, only they aren't exactly the ones she had long ago. 

Reading this I really got a sense of how dangerous it was for these Meta abilities to be coming back, considering how the people and the government have reacted towards it all. Wildly colored contacts have even been outlawed since Metas and Banes (think of them as dark Metas) typically have strange eye colors, Trance included since hers are purple. And when Trance ran into Gage aka "Cipher"... MmmmMmmm....yep, I knew something would probably happen there. I am not ashamed to say that I can't wait to see more.

But I wouldn't call this some happy romance type novel. No, not at all. There is a lot of destruction and death and turmoil. Every time someone from the Rangers is hurt or killed, Teresa feels completely responsible for it and it rips her apart. These people were her friends and her family when she was a child, back before they all were separated and had to act like humans. 

The emotions are entirely real and I know I connected with Trance and Cipher and Onyx and Flex and Tempest and even with Ember (who I believe is the narrator of the second book). I absolutely loved this book, and I can't wait to read the next one, Changeling. Seriously, Trance obviously gets a 5/5 from me.

Trance at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trance-kelly-meding/1101900429?ean=9781451620924

Trance at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Trance-Kelly-Meding/dp/1451620926/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357572737&sr=8-1&keywords=Trance+Kelly+Meding

Other Readings:

I was sucked into Old Man's War by John Scalzi and seriously might have to do a bonus From the Stacks for it sometime at the end of the month. I've been doing a lot of reading the past week or so, and I'm looking forward to reading a lot more, but it may have to slow down as I continue with job hunting. I left my job at the beginning of the year and I desperately need something to pay the bills, but I know I've read enough to keep the From the Stacks posts going for at least the next couple of months. In February I'm even reading a couple books that have movies being released in theaters that month, so that should be interesting.

A New Year Does Not Equal A Shiny Fresh Start

Oh how I wish the new year actually meant that we could shed off all the old issues and problems of the old year and start afresh. It would make life so much simpler, honestly. Instead I started my year in a way I have not since I was old enough to work...I do not have a job.

Sadly, this actually does affect my writing, though probably more than it really should. I know some people are sitting there going "But don't you have more time to write now that you don't have to go to work?" haha...oh, I wish. Now I am spending my days filling out job applications because I have to pay off my student loans and I can't do that without an income. Nor can I afford to keep the internet going or the electricity or, oh yeah, food would be something to remember too. So now I can't even think about working on my novels because I'm actually so stressed about trying to find any sort of job so I can be making money.

Okay, this blog is not supposed to be for me to rant and whine about my life and the crap I have to deal with, but I know that what I am dealing with is an issue that a number of my fellow college graduates are also trying to handle, and it is a vitally important issue. I could try and cover up my joblessness by saying that there just aren't jobs out there for me, but there are. I see dozens of job postings each day for librarians of all types and I apply for as many as I can, but here's the sad fact...most (read that as all, actually) want their librarians to have typically 3-5 years prior experience as a librarian. Normally this would not bother me because I grew up in a library and was a library assistant for most of my junior high and high school years as well as being a student librarian in college. For some reason a good number of these places do not consider this to be experience because most of it happened before I entered college.

I have known since I was a child that I wanted to work surrounded by books, in one way or another. From junior high on the goal was to be an author, but I also knew that it is extremely difficult to live off of your writing so I decided the smart thing to do was to go to school to be a librarian. I figured that way my day job would actually help me with my side job. As a librarian I would get some fun experience and possibly some great story ideas while also perhaps being able to do some research, and then I could go home and spend a couple hours a day writing. It sounded like the perfect plan.

Then I went to school, pursued and received my B.A. in English Literature, and then went on to pursue and receive my Master's in Library and Information Science. There you go, right there, almost six years of training in the area of books and reference (how else did I do my research for all those papers?) and it basically counts for nothing in the real world.

To be able to afford to commute to grad school I had to take a job as a cashier at a gas station, and I worked there for almost two whole years, one of those years being AFTER I graduated with my Master's degree. I have applied to hundreds and hundreds of jobs, and still nothing.

Hello world, my name is Dani and my dream is to work in a place where I am surrounded by books. That is what I have wanted to do for almost all of my 24.5 years on this Earth. Books are my life. They mean more to me than I could ever hope to express. In them I have found adventure, friends, family, magic, love, a place where anything can happen and dreams come true. Books have been my constant companions and they have taught me so much about the world (real and imagined) and people. There are so many amazing books I have yet to read and who knows how many more amazing books will be released in this year and the coming years. I just want to have a job that will allow me to pay the bills and (if I'm lucky) give me enough to keep buying more amazing adventures and supporting the super people who put these stories on paper for the world to enjoy.

From the Stacks: Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

Teen romance story with the guy being Amish. Needless to say the idea caught my interest immediately. I don't know what it is about the Amish lifestyle but for those who really don't know all that much about it, it seems so simple and...almost romantic.

Summary:

"Your heart misleads you.

That's what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah. And he loves me. We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be Rose & Noah forever, easy.

But it won't be.

Because he's Amish.

And I'm not."

My Thoughts:

Wow. This was an interesting story and I really couldn't put it down. The only hugely negative thing I can say about this book is something that is extremely common in romance books and movies...the characters always seem to fall in love instantly, or at maximum it only takes them a day or two. Come on now, how realistic is that? 

Anyway, I actually enjoyed getting this glimpse into the Amish lifestyle. I believe that it is probably fairly accurate considering that the author actually lives in an area where all of her neighbors are Amish. That was really interesting to me and seeing their close-knit family and lives was nice. In the book Rose and even some of her family members make remarks about the Amish people still basically living in the past (I believe one of them even says the Dark Ages) but it works for them.

Now, considering their lifestyle, I somewhat understand why Noah sometimes treats Rose as he does, but I have never been a fan of the male who has to be the dominant, possessive, controlling person in a relationship. It does not sit well with me, and that may well be because my education and upbringing have told me that I am just as capable as a man, which I'm grateful for. And Rose struggles with accepting Noah's beliefs because she too is a modern girl, and it's really difficult.

Seeing how things progress in the book as well as reading the first chapter of the second book (to be released April 23, 2013) I see a huge change in Rose's character, and I plan on reading the next one, but I don't know if I can completely agree with everything that has happened or will happen. However, I do understand that Amish culture is vastly different from my modern American culture, and therefore, I take in what I read, and remember it for if I someday would end up living around the Amish. I try to be respectful of other cultures, though it isn't always easy.

In Temptation I saw where the women stood aside and waited for the men to get their food and start to eat first before the women even thought of it. I saw a culture where boys and girls did not really spend time together; at their gatherings boys were at one table, girls at another, or they would sit on opposite sides of the table. When they played volleyball there were separate nets for girls and boys. Courting happened with supervision. It is not a life I think I would be able to adjust to, being an outgoing, loud, and strong-willed woman.

Nevertheless, I devoured this book and I really would recommend it for others to read. 5/5 from me.

Temptation at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/temptation-karen-ann-hopkins/1108038530?ean=9780373210541

Temptation at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Temptation-Harlequin-Teen-Karen-Hopkins/dp/037321054X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357578530&sr=8-1&keywords=Temptation+Karen+Ann+Hopkins

Other Readings:

I'm in the middle of reading Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and Shatter Me by Tahereh Mati right now. And I just got an alert from my library so I have to go pick up Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff so this month is already awesome.

From the Stacks: Born at Midnight by c.c. hunter

Vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches, faeries...and a girl who doesn't know what she is. Welcome to Shadow Falls camp with Born at Midnight, the first in the Shadow Falls series.

Summary:

"Don't miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams. Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen...

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls-a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren't just "troubled." Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters, witches, and fairies train side by side-learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie's never felt normal, but surely she doesn't belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn't complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek's a half-fae who's determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin' hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn't be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear-Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs..."

My Thoughts:

So, it was an interesting read. I saw the book in stores for a while and kept gravitating over to it, picking it up, looking at it, and then putting it down and walking away. The premise sounded interesting enough, but there always seemed to be other books that just grabbed my attention more. However, a couple months ago, I noticed that Born at Midnight was one of the Daily Deals or Spotlight books, whatever, on my NOOK. Priced at $1.99, I could not pass up the opportunity, especially seeing as how I always told myself I would read the book eventually.

We are introduced to Kylie Galen, a "normal" girl who has broken up with her jerk of a boyfriend because she didn't want to have sex and he clearly did. So, right off the bat, I'm a fan of Kylie because she is only 16 years old and really, I don't think teens (girls and boys) should be having sex at that age, and yet that seems to be what most YA books cover nowadays. Anyway, Kylie goes to a party with her friend Sara, and while Kylie doesn't drink, Sara makes her hold a cup filled with alcohol so she doesn't stand out. Bad idea. The party is broken up by the cops.

Anyway, that opening there leads Kylie's mom to send her to a camp for the summer, a camp she is told is basically for juvenile delinquents. But, hey, not so fast...come to find out it is actually a camp for supernaturals and Kylie is told that although they have no idea what she is, they know she isn't human.

Naturally, Kylie doesn't believe this, and so the whole book is spent with Kylie first trying to come to grips with the fact that she isn't human (thought through most of it she still insists that she is normal) and also trying to figure out what she is. Oh, and spoiler alert, SHE DOESN'T FIGURE IT OUT. We reach the end of the book and still have no idea what kind of supernatural Kylie is. All we know is that she can see ghosts. 

I feel that this was very much a first book for a series, setting things up for later books and introducing readers to the characters and the setting, etc. But I don't feel like there was all that much action. There was a basically minor story line where animals from the nearby zoo/wildlife preserve/whatever are being killed and authorities think it has something to do with this supernatural camp, and that conflict fills the last 30 pages or so, but other than that there is practically no action or threat or anything. Even Kylie's main ghost, whom she calls Soldier Dude stops feeling creepy early on and just becomes annoying and I hate to say it, predictable.

I will say that I am interested enough in this to read the next book, but it may be that I try to find it in my library to read before I consider buying it. Still though, Born at Midnight gets a 4/5 from me.

Born at Midnight at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/born-at-midnight-c-c-hunter/1100354530?ean=9780312624675

Born at Midnight at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Born-at-Midnight-Shadow-Falls/dp/0312624670/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357417874&sr=8-1&keywords=Born+at+Midnight

Other Readings:

Well, I am feeling so drawn into Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins, so I'm probably going to finish that up today, and then I actually need to jump into Trance by Kelly Meding since I planned on it being my From the Stacks next week. Depending on how things go, I also plan on losing myself in Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes and Tempest by Julie Cross. So, that's all for now. I'm going back to my books.

From the Stacks: Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

What a great book to read to kick off the new year. I've already set my goal for 100 books read in 2013 and this is exactly how I like my readings to start, with awesome stories in awesome lands with great characters.

Summary:

"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her...but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead...quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined."

My Thoughts:

Okay, first I totally have to say that one of the coolest parts about this story is the tale of how it came to be. Sarah J. Maas originally posted this story on fictionpress.com several years ago, and has since removed it, edited, and then sought publication. Now, what makes it really cool for me is that I also used to post stories on fictionpress.com, though I can honestly say that I never recall seeing this on there (but there were a lot of stories so I know I missed out on a lot). Anyway, I'm so excited to see that the response she got on fictionpress and all the comments of others on there helped to push her up to where she is now.

So, onto the story. In some ways it reminded me of Poison Study, because in that book Yelena is pulled off death row and offered the position of food taster. Here in Throne of Glass, Celaena is chosen by the prince to be his champion and fight for the position of King's Assassin. So, in a way it is almost like Poison Study meets Hunger Games. It also sets up a great love triangle and I honestly can't decide which guy I prefer for Celaena.

At the beginning I felt completely certain that I wasn't going to like Prince Dorian. Really, he just seemed sort of pompous to me, but then came the scene with the books and the discussion of literature...and I'm sorry, I melted and possibly even swooned. Sarah J. Maas, you hit me in my weak spot...I'm a sucker for a lover of books. But then later, Captain Westfall (Chaol) also mentions his love of books and there I was, stuck between a rock and a hard place. Seriously, how can I decide between two such great guys?

Both of these guys have such faith in Celaena and her abilities, and I loved watching Chaol start to trust her more and more. I really honestly cannot wait to read the next book in the series. I sincerely hope that it helps me make a decision on which guy I prefer: Dorian or Chaol, but based on how everything went in this book, I imagine that the choice will just become more difficult in book two.

A definite 5/5 for Throne of Glass.

Throne of Glass at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/throne-of-glass-sarah-j-maas/1108077808?ean=9781599906959

Throne of Glass at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Throne-Glass-Sarah-J-Maas/dp/1599906953/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357418711&sr=8-1&keywords=Throne+of+Glass

Other Readings:

Well, I started getting into the books chosen for my book clubs: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon for Vaginal Fantasy, and Old Man's War by John Scalzi for Sword & Laser. I'm also about ready to jump into Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, and then I have a few other books, but I'm trying to only let myself read four books at once, so I'll start a new one after I've finished one I'm reading now. My first regular From the Stacks for the year is Born at Midnight and that will be up in a few days.